Washing machine



y 27, 1954 c. 0. SMITH 2,684,585

WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 INVENTOR.

A TTOBN E Y.

July 27, 1954 c. D. SMITH WASHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1951 v 2 SheetsSheet 2 V N TOR.

ffl/Q 772% 6. M674 Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Carl D. Smith, Peoria, Ill.

Application August 1, 1951, Serial No. 239,695

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to washing machines and more particularly to machines of the oscillating agitator type for washing articles of various types.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- .vide a washing machine in which the articles to .be washed are carried in a basket which oscillates in a tub containing detergent liquid.

According to one feature of the invention, the basket is annular to fit on and be supported by the usual oscillating agitator of an agitator .type washing machine.

Another object is to provide a washing machine in which the basket is divided into a plurality of separate compartments to receive different articles to be washed.

According to another feature, the annular basket i provided with flexible sinuous partitions to engage and resiliently support rigid articles, such as dishes.

A further object is to provide a washing machine in which the tube is integrally formed of rubber-like material, and is supported on a base which carries the driving mechanism.

In the preferred construction, the base has a central tubular post through which the agitator drive shaft extends and the tub is formed with an integral central tubular projection to fit over the post thereby to eliminate any possibility of leakage.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with .the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view with parts broken away of a washing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical axial section; Figure 3 is a partial section showing a modified drive construction, and

Figure 4 is a detail elevation on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

The washing machine as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a base formed of a flat circular metal-plate l which has secured to its periphery an upwardly extending short flange ll terminating in a rolled bead l2, Preferably the flange I I is formedby an annular ring welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the base plate to leave a skirt l3 extending below the base plate. The lower edge of the skirt terminates in abead covered by v base by inserting upper flattened ends thereof in socket 16 secured on the interior of the base.

At'its central portion the base has an upwardly projecting tubular post I! which is rigidly secured to the base plate I0 and extends upwards a substantial distance therefrom. The post rotatably :receives a driving shaft 18 which may be jjournaled in bearings l9 at .the top and bottom end of the post. The driving shaft l8 may be oscillated through a motor and gear unit 2| mounted beneath the base plate In and within the skirt 13. The base is adapted to receive and support a tub which, according to the present invention, is integrally moldedor otherwise formed of a rubber-like material, such as natural or synthetic rubber or a plastic compound. Preferably the material from which the tub is formed is relatively soft but is sufficiently hard to be selfsupporting without requiring any reinforcement or, at least, with a minimum of reinforcement. An example of a suitable material is rubber of about '70 durometer.

The tub is formed as shown with a flat annular bottom 22 to rest on the base plate In and with cylindrical side walls 23 of a height to extend slightly above the top of the post ll. Preferably, the walls 23 are formed on their exterior surface with a series of vertically extending ribs as shown at 24 which serve to stiiien and strengthen the tub and also to reduce the area of contactof the users hand or body with the tub walls thereby to reduce the heat effect. At its center, the tub has integrally formed therewith a tubular projection 25 of a size to fit relatively closely over the post ll and substantially coextensive in length with the post. With the tub so formed it can be mounted easily on the base simply by slipping the tubular projection 25 over the post and forcing the tub downward until it seats against the base II] with its side walls lying within the flange l2. Since the tub is integrally molded there is no chance for leakage of liquid around the center post and no separate seals or separate fastenings are required.

The shaft IE3 at it upper end carries an agitator having a hub portion'26 secured to the upper end of the shaft by a nut 21 and a hollow central skirt 28 which extends downward over the tubular projection 25. At its lower end the agitator has a flat bottom plate 2.9 formed with a series of ribs 3| which serve to agitate the detergent liquid in the tub when the agitator is oscillated.

According to the present invention the articles to be washed are contained in a basket which is supported by the agitator for movement therewith. As shown an annular wire basket 32 is provided having-a hollow center portion of a size to fit over the agitator skirt 28 and having its bottom formed with pockets or notche to receive the blades 3 i. The basket may be formed of wires crossed and secured together in the usual manner with the inner and outer basket walls connected by V-shaped loops of wire 33 at spaced points. The remaining portions of the basket are formed byannularly extending wires which cross and are secured to the looped wires 33 .to provide a unitary structure. The basket may be inserted simply by placing it over the agitator with the agitator blades fitting into thenotches or pockets in the bottom of the basket and will normally require no additional fastening. With the basket so positioned it will turn with the agitator to carry articles therein through the detergent liquid so that they will be thoroughly washed.

According to one of the features of the invention the basket is divided into a plurality of separate compartments by radially extending partitions in the basket. As best seen in Figure 1, these partitions are formed by sinuous resilient strips 34 extending radially from the inner to the outer wall of the basket. Preferably the strips 35 are spring wire and are spaced above the bottom of the basket to grip the side edges of the dishes near their vertical centers. Partitions of this type are particularly advantageous in washing rigid articles such as dishes, since the dishes may have their edge portions inserted between adjacent bends of the partitions as indicated by the dish 35 in Figure 1 to be separated in the basket. Since the partitions are resilient they will yield to receive dishes of different sizes and will hold the dishes resiliently in place with their planes substantially tangent to the tub. As the agitator and the basket turn the dishes will be swished through the detergent liquid which will clean them rapidly and effectively.

For increased capacity a second annular basket 35 formed in substantially the same manner as the basket 32 may be seated on top of the basket 32 as shown in Figure 2. When both baskets are employed the lower basket may receive, for example, dishes and larger articles while the upper basket may receive smaller articles such as cups, silverware and the like. In washing textiles it may also be desirable to utilize both baskets to support textiles of different types during the washing operation. The provision of the partitions 34 also facilitates separation of different types of textile materials which may be desirable.

The tub is closed by a cover 3'! which is also formed of a molded rubber-like material similar to that of which the tub itself is formed. As shown in Figure 2, the cover is provided with a groove 38 in its periphery to seat over the upper edge of the tub and has a vent 39 molded therein to vent steam from the tub. The cover has a central handle ll integrally molded thereon and a plurality of ribs 52 terminating in a plane flush with the top of the handle so that the cover can be inverted to seat on a flat surface to serve as a draining tray when desired.

Instead of driving the agitator from the bottom as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cover itself may carry the agitator drive mechanism as shown in Figure 3. As illustrated in this figure the shaft l8 projects above the agitator hub 26 and is formed with a coupling element illustrated as a pin 43. A cover M for the tub is formed with an internal flange 45 to fit within the upper edge of the tub 46 and in this case the cover is preferably reinforced so that it can carry a motor and gear driving unit ll. The unit 41 is centrally secured to the cover and has a shaft 48 projecting downwardly through the cover and terminating in a coupling unit 49 complementary to the pin 63. The coupling unit 49 as shown is cupshaped and is formed with slots in its sides to receive the pin 43 so that the shaft l8 and the agitator will be turned with the shaft 48.

The construction of Figures 3 and 4 is otherwise similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 and operates in the same manner.

It will be understood that in both embodiments shown the articles are washed submerged in hot detergent liquid and are thereby thoroughly cleansed in a very short time. It will also be apparent that in washing various types of fabrics the baskets might be omitted. The tubs may be made in different colors and assembled in different combinations on different colored bases to suit individual tastes. Because the tubs can be assembled on the bases easily and without the use of tools it is feasible to ship the tubs and bases separately to be assembled as desired by the dealer.

While two embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that these are illustrative only and are not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising a base having a relatively low peripheral flange and a vertically extending central tubular post of substan tially greater length than the height of the flange, a tub integrally formed of rubber-like material with a bottom to rest on the base, upwardly extending side walls of greater height than the flange to flt within and project above the flange, and a central tubular portion substantially coextensive in height with the post to fit over the post, a shaft extending through the post, and an agitator secured to the upper end of the shaft and having a hollow hub portion extending over the central tubular portion of the tub.

2. A washing machine comprising a flat circular base having a short vertical peripheral flange and a central tubular post of substantially greater height than the flange, a tub integrally formed of rubber-like material with a flat bottom to rest on the base, a cylindrical side wall to fit within and project above the flange, and a central tubular projection substantially coextensive in height with the post to fit over the post, a shaft extending through the post, and an agitator secured to the upper end of the shaft and having a hollow hub extending over the central proj ecticn.

3. The construction of claim 2 in which the tub side wall is formed on its exterior with a series of vertically extending ribs to reinforce the side wall and to relieve the eifect of the heat upon contact with the tub.

4. In a washing machine, an open topped tub adapted to contain detergent liquid, means in the tub to agitate the liquid and to wash articles in the tub, and a cover for the tub formed to fit over the open top thereof and having a dished under surface, the top of the cover being formed with a projecting handle and with ribs terminating in a common plane with the handle to support the cover in inverted position, and there being an opening through the rim of the cover communicating with the dished surface thereof to provide a vent when the cover is on the tub and a drain when the cover is inverted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 767,568 Kelluin Aug. 16, 1904 1,460,400 Belknap July 3, 1923 1,623,703 Ruff Apr. 5, 1927 1,752,967 Simmons Apr, 1, 1930 1,793,798 Harker Feb. 24, 1931 2,062,704 Forsyth Dec. 1, 1936 2,202,152 Hurley May 28, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 556,500 Great Britain of 1943 

